Card playing apparatus



Jan. 11, 1938. E. w. LARSSON-LETZEN 2,105,358

CARD PLAYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1936 Patented Jan. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEE CARD PLAYING APPARATUS Einar Wilhelm Larsson-Letzn, Malmo, Sweden Application October 6, 1936, Serial No. 104,218

5 Claims.

The main object of my present invention is to provide a device, or an apparatus, for facilitating and simplifying the playing of games at cards, more particularly contest games at bridge (duplicate games).

.Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind set forth, by means of which the four cards of each trick may be simultaneously, readily, and speedily removed from a playing plate into four separate places. Thus, all of the cards played may successively be collected into four separate heaps, each containing the cards played by one of the players.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind set forth having means for automatically recording the tricks taken by each pair of the players.

Further objects and characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims, and the drawing attached thereto. In said drawing:-

Fig. 1 shows a plan View of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, while Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of said embodiment, partially in section on line II--II of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown, the apparatus comprises a playing plate I having four card receiving platforms 2, one for each player. Each platform 2 has a number of slots therein and in each of said slots a peg 3, or a pin, is slidably mounted. The set of pins of each of the platforms 2 is connected to one of the four arms s of a turnstile, said turnstile being rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 5 positioned at the centre of the playing plate I.

At each of two adjacent edges, la and lb, of said playing plate I a button 6 is provided, said button 6 forming the outer end of a rod 1 which is slidably mounted in the playing plate i, the 40 inner end of each of said rods 7 engaging an arm 4 of the turnstile. A spring 8 connects the turnstile with the playing plate i and normally keeps the turnstile in a position to place the pins 3 at one end of the slots of the platforms 2. At each corner of: the playing plate 1, a box 9 is provided having an open end facing one of said platforms 2. Each rod 1 is provided with a lateral projection l engaging a recording mechanism H.

When playing, each one of the four players places his card upon the platform 2 in front of him. Then, the member of the winning pair seated at the edge I a or lb presses the button 6 at this edge, thereby causing the corresponding rod 1 to rotate the turnstile, whereby the pins 3 projecting through the slots of the platforms push the cards played from said platforms into the boxes 9. Upon relieving oi the pressure on the button 5 the turnstile is returned to its original position by the action of spring 8.

When pressing the button 6, the player also causes the projection I!) to operate the recording mechanism i l associated with the button in question, thereby recording a trick for the winning pair of players. The other recording mechanism H remains, of course, unchanged until the corresponding button 5 is operated by a member of the other pair following a trick Won by said lastmentioned pair of players.

It is to be understood that the constructional features may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for instance, the pins 3 may be interconnected by means of rods or strings producing, during the sliding movement of rods i an effect similar to that of the turnstile. Furthermore, the turnstile may be positioned above the playing plate I, the pins, bristles, or other suitable devices in such case moving over the platforms and thus removing the cards therefrom. Finally, some of the mechanical devices may be electrically operated as, for instance, by means of switches opening and closing electrical circuits.

What I claim is:

l. A card playing device comprising in combination a number of card supporting means, a number of card collecting means, card displacing means for moving the cards from said card supporting means to said card collecting means, and actuating means for said card displacing means.

2. A card playing device comprising in combination a number of card supporting means, a number of card collecting means, a card displacing means for moving the cards from said card supporting means to said card collecting means, actuating means for said card displacin means, and trick recording means connected to said actuating means.

3. A card playing device comprising in combination a number of card supporting means, slots in said card supporting means, a number of card collecting means, a card displacing means for moving the cards from said card supporting means to said card collecting means, pins connected to said card displacing means, said pins projecting through said slots, and actuating means for said card displacing means.

4:. A card playing device comprising in combination a number of card supporting means, slots in said card supporting means, a number of card collecting means, a card displacing means for moving the cards from said card supporting means to said card collecting means, pins connected to said card displacing means, said pins projecting through said slots, actuating means for said card displacing means, and trick recording means associated with said actuating means.

5. A card playing device comprising in combination a number of card supporting platforms one for each player, slots in said platforms, a. number of card collecting boxes in association with said platforms, a turnstile, arms of said turnstile projecting into beneath said platforms, pins on said arms, said pins projecting through said slots and movable therein, actuating rods engaging said turnstile, and trick recording means associated with said actuating rods.

EINAR WILHELM LARSSON-LE'IZEN. 

